I could not easily figure out from your web site, how to transfer a menu created to a actual web page. In my case, I will be using asp. Can you run me through the steps. I already figured out how to create menus. I just want to know how easy it is to bring them into my project. Also, after I bring them in, do I change them with html or through your interface if I add nodes or what ever? I really do not want to use Chrome if this is easier to use.

Gary

Reply From: Likno Customer Support

Dear Gary,

The way to add your menu to a page is to “Link” it. This essentially means that you need to add a couple of lines of code (aka “Linking Code”) into the page that will point to the menu file. You can either do this manually, or automatically through AllWebMenus. If you choose to do this manually, AllWebMenus will give you the required code and you will have to copy-paste it into the files you want. If you choose the automatic method, you will just have to select the desired files from a list and AllWebMenus will automatically add the Linking Code for you.

Regarding updating your menus, again we support both methods. The default is keeping the structure within the application. In this case when you want to update your menu, you simply edit it in the application, you Compile it and Upload the new menu file (no need to Link again or upload your pages).

If you want however, you can make a “ULLI” menu, in which case the menu structure is within the page. With this method, each of your pages must have a copy of the menu structure. The pros of this method are that you can update your menu structure without ever touching AllWebMenus again, and that you can have a different menu structure in each page. The cons are that you need to have the structure in all your pages and hence update it in all pages (we strongly recommend keeping it into an include file if it will be the same for all pages) and that you lose some high-end abilities of AllWebMenus such as customized style per item.

I hope the above have been helpful. I understand that the initial learning curve is a bit steep, but this is due to the extreme flexibility and features of AllWebMenus. Once you get the hang of it, you will love the unlimited possibilities this offers you.

I noticed the Unlimited Server Side API being offered as a gift for free with purchase of All Web Menus Pro. I already have licenses to All Web Menus Pro, Button Maker and Photo Frame programs. It seems silly to me to buy just the API when I could purchase AWM and get it for free, but I already have it.

Thanks! Judy

Reply From: Likno Customer Support

Dear Judy,

The Server Side API is a JavaScript API that allows you to generate menus with JavaScript Code. It requires that you do some manual coding and usually the user writes PHP or ASP code that “produces” the required JavaScript code for the menu.

I just want it to be clear that it is not something that will automatically connect to your database and create the menu for you.

Throughout the different times he have designed and redesigned our site we have been told many things. And of course many things have changed through the years.

One that I am just not sure on is the use of Frames. I recall being told that it wasn't a good practice to use a frameset but it really does seem like the best route to go. Let me explain...

Our old site which is www.home2000.com used 3 frames. Top, left and main. The topFrame held the upper navigation, logo and search feature so it was always a consistent and did not have to be refreshed. Then when someone would select one of the links in the upper navigation, it would load a menu in the left frame and content in the mainFrame. This really worked well for us.

When he decided to redesign our site, we wanted to move away from Java mainly. We also wanted to rewrite our pages to load faster etc. We had someone who converted our pages into HTML. When he did this, he wrote the upper navigation into the page as well. Because of this, when we load a new page, the whole thing reloads because its all part of the same page. If you look at our old site, and compare it to our new site (www.home2000.com/h2) you will see what I mean.

What is our best way to do this? I was thinking that if I just use a very basic frame system that holds the logo, navigation and search feature; a lower frame could hold the display pages and that way the upper frame always stays consistent because it wont change anyways...it is exactly the same on each page. I read a little on iFrames, but I really don't think that is the way to go for this situation. Please let me know what you think would be the best route and if there are problems with using frames this way.

Thanks in advance for your help!!

Bob

Reply From: Likno Customer Support

Dear Bob,

I believe that there is no need to keep using frames in your site. The top frame is really light and considering that any images are cached and not really reloaded every time, it is probably lighter to have a single page instead of three (even if one never reloads).

Moreover, if you use a single page you will be able to use other menu features, such as the “auto-highlight” which shows the current item highlighted.

If you want to keep the maintenance easy, you could put the “top section” HTML into a separate include file (you need some server-side language for this, such as PHP or ASP), so changing the logo in a single file will update all your pages.

Like for instance, the year and month variables I use outside the webtab and I need them in the pages inside the webtabs.

I found a solution in that I use session variables. That works all right.

But I know now that it is impossible to transfer name value pairs from outside the webtab to the pages inside the individual tabs.

Thanks for your rapid answer anyhow.

Best regards, Hans

Reply From: Likno Customer Support

Dear Hans,

It is not impossible to pass parameters. This is why I asked you how you are trying to do this.

The session variables will of course work fine, as would cookies. However it is possible to pass even normal parameters if this is what you want. The way to do this however is through the use of the API and the DIVs or UL/LI population method. In this case, you define the tabs content within your page, and you can use your server-side code (PHP, ASP etc) to “write” the correct URL for each Tab Body.

If you still want to do it this way and need more help, do let me know.